Role of Colonoscopy in Evaluation of Patients with Lower Gastrointestinal Symptomatology in Rural Set Up

Colonoscopy is most useful in diagnosing and treating patients with neoplasms, strictures or colonic mucosal disease previously diagnosed on radiological imaging. Other uses include the evaluation of patients with gastrointestinal hemorrhage (hematochezia and occult bleeding) unexplained iron deficiency anemia screening and surveillance for colonic neoplasms, diagnosis and surveillance of inflammatory bowel disease evaluation of chronic diarrhea constipation, foreign body removal decompression of megacolon and sigmoid volvulus and the treatment of anorectal disorders. Other modalities like CT scan and Ultrasonography also plays an important role in diagnosing lower GI symptomatology and their pathologies and are included in present study. Due to change in life style, dietary habits, lack of physical activity there is nowadays increasing symptoms suggestive of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) especially in young population and as stomatology of IBS and Colorectal Cancer (CRC) or Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) may mimic to each other, thorough evaluation of such individuals is mandatory though colonoscopy is little cumbersome and causes discomfort to patient. As compared to other radiological procedure/investigations colonoscopy provides a better view of colon inside and is more sensitive and accurate regarding diagnosing lower GI pathologies. All the results were finally compared with histopathologically for confirmation. Hence this research question Role of Colonoscopy in Evaluation of Patients with Lower Gastrointestinal Symptomatology in Rural Set Up is selected for study purpose. This study was conducted at Acharya Vinoba Bhave Rural, Sawangi (Meghe) Wardha, Maharashtra and study protocol was in a prospective manner.